Control mechanism for sewing-machine motors.



H. E. SELLERS.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINE MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5.19l6- Pauented May 1, 1917.

Mill UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. SELLERS, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO MARATHON ELECTRIC MFG. COMPANY, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINE MOTORS.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Application filed February 5, 1916. Serial No. 76,295. x 8

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. SELLERS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of VVausau, county of Marathon, and-State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Control Mechanism for. Sewing-Machine Mo construction and arrangement of the several parts of said element which are actuated by the machine treadle.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sewing machine showing a motor arranged thereon and showing also the improved controlling element as attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation partly sectional of the controlling element,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly sectional of the rheostat as viewed-from the plane of the line AA of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail partly sectional of the motor base illustrating the connection thereof tothe motor.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the motor 1 is pivotally mounted on the base 2 on an axis transverse to that of the motor shaft 3. The connection is made by means of a pin or shaft 4 secured to ears 5 on the base 2 and having journaled there- 'on an arm 6 depending from the casing of the motor 1.

A compression spring 7 seated in a recess. 8 formed in the base 2, engages a shoulder 9 formed on the arm 6 andnormallynrges the driving wheel 10 ofthe motor linto driving relation with the fly wheel 11 of the sewing machine head 12. a A screw 13 is set in the base 2 in alinement with and engaging the spring 7 so as to be accessiblefrom the exterior for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the spring with a view of altering the frictional contact of the driving wheel 10 with the fly wheel 11.

The.controlling element, comprises a rheostat 14 supported at the upper end of a standard 15 which is so attached to a transverse base part 16, that the element may be set adjacent to the rear edge of the machine treadle .17 for the purpose of connecting the latter to the rheostat. The rheostat 14 may be of any suitable design, as for example one wherein a movable arm 18 moves across the usual series "of contacts 19: A conductor 19.1 leads from the contacts 19 to the motor,

and another conductor 19.2 leads to a source of electricity. 7

The standard 15 comprises a piece of sheet metal bent to channel shape so. that its cross-- section is in the formfof a U. A pair of rods 20 having their outer ends bent to form shoulders 21, and having their inner ends threaded and extended through the back 22 of the standard, engage the rheostat 14 at diametrically opposite sides and are forced to clamp the same to the standard by means of nuts 23"secured to said threaded ends.

A lever 24 is pivoted at 25 within the standard 15, and isconneeted by a rod or link 26 to the rheostat arm 18. A spring 27 housed within the standard 15 at the back of the rheostat 14, has its upper end connected to the upper rod 20 and the lower end connected to the lever 24 near the pivot 25. This spring normally actuates the lever'24 so as to urge the treadle 17 through the connection 28 into position to permit the re traction of the rheostat lever 18. A radially disposed shoulder 29, integrally formed on the lever 24, coacts with the back 22 of the standard for limiting the downward movement of the lever 24.

This arrangement of the controlling element possesses two important advantages. First, it is adapted to be set so as to be connected to the machine. treadle 17 thereby permitting the operator to sit in a normal position at the machine'and use the foot pedal for controlling the operation thereof. Second, the return of the pedal to a normal position is effected by a spring other than that which is a part of the rheostat 14, and normally designed for the purpose of actuating the arm 18 only.

The mode of attachment and operation V of the electric power unit herein shown is as follows zy The motor 1 is placed on the machine table 12.1 and tipped relative to its base 2 so that the driving wheel 10 may be set under the fiy wheel 11. Upon releasing the motor, the spring 7 normally urges it into driving relation with said fly wheel. The frictional grip of the driving wheel 10 is determined by said spring and may be adjusted by means of the screw 13.

The controlling element is set behind the treadle 17, and the flexible connection 28 attached thereto. The conductor 19 is then connected to asource of electricity, and the apparatus is ready for use. The operator sits in a normal position at the machine with the feet upon the treadle 17. A de pression of the' treadle shifts the arm 18 (Fig. 3) so as to complete the circuit to the motor 1 through the conductor 19.1 and starts the machine. The shifting of the treadle 17 for the purpose of moving the lever 18 across the contact 19 controls the speed of the motor.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction s be. altered or omitted fwithout from the spirit of this. invention by. the following claims.

own may departing as defined I cla1mzp 1. A controlling element for sewing machine motors comprising a rheostat having a movable switch arm, a standard for supporting said rheostat, said standard being of U-shaped cross-section and supported on a horizontal base part, means at the upper end of said standard for attaching said rheostat, a lever pivoted within said U-sha ed standard and connected to the movable part of saidlrheostat, a spring normally retracting said lever, and a connection for attaching sziiillilever to the treadle of a sewing mac e 2. controlling element for sewing machine motors comprising a rheostat having a movable member, a standard for supporting said rheostat, said standard being of U- shaped cross-section and supported on a horizontal base part, means at the upper end of said standard for attaching said rheostat, a lever pivoted said U-shaped standard below said rheostat and connected to the movable part thereof, a spring housed within said standard behind said rheostat and lever, and a connection for attaching said lever to the treadle of a sewing machine.

'3. A controlling element for sewing machine motors comprising a rheostat having a movable member, a standard for supportlng said rheostat, said standard beingof U- shaped cross-section and supported on a horizontal base part, means at the upper end of said standard for attaching said rheostat, a lever pivoted within said U-shaped standard below said rheostat and connected to the movable part thereof, a spring housed within said standard behind said rheostat and connected so as to normally retract said lever, a connection for attaching said lever to the treadle of a sewing machine, and a radially disposed shoulder on said lever adapted to engage the back of said standard for limiting treadle.

4. A controlling element for sewing machine motors comprising a rheostat having a movable member, a standard for supporting said rheostat, a pair of rods having their the downward movement of the inner ends threaded and their outer ends bent transversely to form shoulders, said rods having their threaded ends extending through said standard so opposite points, nuts on said threaded ends adapted to set said rods for clam ing said rheostat to said standard, a lever pivoted on thereof adapted to permit said standard to be positioned adjacent to the treadle of a sewlng machine, means at the upper endv of said standard for attachin said rheostat, a lever pivoted on said stan ard and connected to the movable part of said rheostat, a

that their outer I ends engage said rheostat at diametrically spring normally retracting said lever, and a connection for attachin said lever to the treadle of a sewing machme.

Signed at Wausa'u this 9th day of Nov., 1915.v

HARRY. E. SELLERS. Witnesses H. F. LoUNsBURY, J 01m V. DALNODAR. 

